Asus P7F-E - Motherboard - ATX User manual

Motherboard
P7F-E

ii
E4905
First Edition V1
August 2009
Copyright © 2009 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.
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except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission
of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).
Product warranty or service will not be extended if: (1) the product is repaired, modied or altered, unless
such repair, modication of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the
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ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF
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owners’ benet, without intent to infringe.

iii
Contents
Notices........................................................................................................ vii
Safety information .................................................................................... viii
About this guide ......................................................................................... ix
Typography .................................................................................................. x
P7F-E specications summary.................................................................. xi
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-3
1.2 Package contents......................................................................... 1-3
1.3 Serial number label...................................................................... 1-4
1.4 Special features............................................................................ 1-4
1.4.1 Product highlights ........................................................... 1-4
1.4.2 Innovative ASUS features ............................................... 1-6
Chapter 2: Hardware information
2.1 Before you proceed ..................................................................... 2-3
2.2 Motherboard overview................................................................. 2-5
2.2.1 Placement direction ........................................................ 2-5
2.2.2 Screw holes .................................................................... 2-5
2.2.3 Motherboard layout ......................................................... 2-6
2.2.4 Layout contents............................................................... 2-7
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 2-9
2.3.1 Installing the CPU ........................................................... 2-9
2.3.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan.............................. 2-12
2.3.3 Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan ......................... 2-13
2.3.2 Installing the CPU heatsink in rack ............................... 2-14
2.4 System memory ......................................................................... 2-15
2.4.1 Overview ....................................................................... 2-15
2.4.2 Memory Congurations................................................. 2-15
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM .......................................................... 2-16
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM ........................................................ 2-16
2.5 Expansion slots.......................................................................... 2-17
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card ......................................... 2-17
2.5.2 Conguring an expansion card ..................................... 2-17
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments ................................................... 2-18
2.5.4 MIO PCIE slot ............................................................... 2-18
2.5.5 PCI Express x16 slot (x8 link) ....................................... 2-18

iv
Contents
2.5.6 PCI Express x16 slot (x16 link) ..................................... 2-18
2.5.7 PCI Express x1 slot....................................................... 2-19
2.5.8 PCI slots........................................................................ 2-19
2.5.9 PIKE slot ....................................................................... 2-19
2.5.10 Installing an ASUS PIKE RAID card ............................. 2-20
2.5.11 Installing i Button........................................................... 2-21
2.5.12 Installing ASMB4 management board........................... 2-21
2.5.13 Connect Thermal sensor cable ..................................... 2-22
2.5.14 Installing the audio card ................................................ 2-22
2.6 Jumpers ...................................................................................... 2-23
2.7 Connectors ................................................................................. 2-27
2.7.1 Rear panel connectors.................................................. 2-27
2.7.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 2-28
Chapter 3: Powering up
3.1 Starting up for the rst time........................................................ 3-3
3.2 Powering off the computer.......................................................... 3-4
3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function.................................... 3-4
3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch.............................. 3-4
Chapter 4: BIOS setup
4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 4-3
4.1.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility................................................... 4-3
4.1.2 BUPDATER utility............................................................ 4-4
4.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility ...................................... 4-6
4.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................... 4-7
4.2.1 BIOS menu screen.......................................................... 4-8
4.2.2 Menu bar......................................................................... 4-8
4.2.3 Navigation keys............................................................... 4-8
4.2.4 Menu items ..................................................................... 4-9
4.2.5 Sub-menu items.............................................................. 4-9
4.2.6 Conguration elds ......................................................... 4-9
4.2.7 Pop-up window ............................................................... 4-9
4.2.8 Scroll bar......................................................................... 4-9
4.2.9 General help ................................................................... 4-9
4.3 Main menu .................................................................................. 4-10
4.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx] ................................................. 4-10

v
Contents
4.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]....................................... 4-10
4.3.3 SATA1—6.......................................................................4-11
4.3.4 Storage Conguration ................................................... 4-13
4.3.5 AHCI Conguration ....................................................... 4-14
4.3.6 System Information ....................................................... 4-15
4.4 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 4-16
4.4.1 CPU Conguration ........................................................ 4-16
4.4.2 Chipset.......................................................................... 4-20
4.4.3 Onboard Devices Conguration.................................... 4-22
4.4.4 USB Conguration ........................................................ 4-23
4.4.5 PCIPnP ......................................................................... 4-24
4.4.6 ACPI Conguration ....................................................... 4-25
4.4.7 Event Log Conguration ............................................... 4-27
4.4.8 Intel VT-d Conguration [Disabled] ............................... 4-27
4.4.9 SR-IOV Supprted [Disabled] ......................................... 4-27
4.5 Server menu ............................................................................... 4-28
4.5.1 Remote Access Conguration....................................... 4-28
4.6 Power menu................................................................................ 4-30
4.6.1 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]....................................... 4-30
4.6.2 APM Conguration........................................................ 4-30
4.6.3 Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 4-32
4.7 Boot menu .................................................................................. 4-33
4.7.1 Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 4-33
4.7.2 Boot Settings Conguration .......................................... 4-34
4.7.3 Security ......................................................................... 4-35
4.8 Tools menu ................................................................................. 4-37
4.8.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2.......................................................... 4-37
4.9 Exit menu .................................................................................... 4-38
Chapter 5: RAID conguration
5.1 Setting up RAID............................................................................ 5-3
5.1.1 RAID denitions .............................................................. 5-3
5.1.2 Installing hard disk drives................................................ 5-4
5.1.3 Setting the RAID item in BIOS ........................................ 5-4
5.1.4 RAID conguration utilities.............................................. 5-4
5.2 LSI Software RAID Conguration Utility .................................... 5-5

vi
Contents
5.2.1 Creating a RAID set ........................................................ 5-6
5.2.2 Adding or viewing a RAID conguration ....................... 5-12
5.2.3 Initializing the virtual drives ........................................... 5-13
5.2.4 Rebuilding failed drives................................................. 5-17
5.2.5 Checking the drives for data consistency ..................... 5-19
5.2.6 Deleting a RAID conguration....................................... 5-22
5.2.7 Selecting the boot drive from a RAID set...................... 5-23
5.2.8 Enabling WriteCache .................................................... 5-24
5.3 Intel®Matrix Storage Manage Option ROM Utility................... 5-25
5.3.1 Creating a RAID set ...................................................... 5-26
5.3.2 Creating a Recovery set ............................................... 5-27
5.3.3 Deleting a RAID set ...................................................... 5-29
5.3.4 Resetting disks to Non-RAID ........................................ 5-30
5.3.5 Recovery Volume Options ............................................ 5-31
5.3.6 Exiting the Intel®Matrix Storage Manager .................... 5-32
5.3.7 Rebuilding the RAID ..................................................... 5-32
5.3.8 Setting the Boot array in the BIOS Setup Utility............ 5-34
Chapter 6: Driver installation
6.1 RAID driver installation ............................................................... 6-3
6.1.1 Creating a RAID driver disk ............................................ 6-3
6.1.2 Installing the RAID controller driver ................................ 6-6
6.2 Intel®chipset device installation .............................................. 6-19
6.3 LAN driver installation............................................................... 6-21
6.4 VGA driver installation............................................................... 6-24
6.5 Management applications and utilities installation ................ 6-26
6.5.1 Running the support DVD ............................................. 6-26
6.5.2 Drivers menu................................................................. 6-26
6.5.3 Utilities menu ................................................................ 6-27
6.5.4 Make disk menu............................................................ 6-27
6.5.5 Contact information....................................................... 6-27
Appendix: Reference information
A.1 P7F-E block diagram....................................................................A-3

vii
Notices
Federal Communications Commission Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
• This device may not cause harmful interference, and
• This device must accept any interference received including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with manufacturer’
s instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If
this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions
from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the
Canadian Department of Communications.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is
required to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modications
to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.
REACH
Complying with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction
of Chemicals) regulatory framework, we published the chemical substances in our
products at ASUS REACH website at http://green.asus.com/english/REACH.htm.

viii
Safety information
Electrical safety
• To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the
electrical outlet before relocating the system.
• When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the
power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are
connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system
before you add a device.
• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure
that all power cables are unplugged.
• Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord.
These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.
• Make sure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area.
If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using,
contact your local power company.
• If the power supply is broken, do not try to x it by yourself. Contact a
qualied service technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
• Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all
the manuals that came with the package.
• Before using the product, make sure all cables are correctly connected and the
power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer
immediately.
• To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from
connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.
• Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in
any area where it may become wet.
• Place the product on a stable surface.
• If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualied
service technician or your retailer.
This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical,
electronic equipment, and mercury-containing button cell battery) should not
be placed in municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic
products.

ix
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring
the motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This user guide contains the following parts:
• Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new
technologies it supports.
• Chapter 2: Hardware information
This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform
when installing system components. It includes description of the switches,
jumpers, and connectors on the motherboard.
• Chapter 3: Powering up
This chapter describes the power up sequence and ways of shutting down
the system.
• Chapter 4: BIOS setup
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup
menus. Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
• Chapter 5: RAID conguration
This chapter provides instructions for setting up, creating, and conguring
RAID sets using the available utilities.
• Chapter 6: Driver installation
This chapter provides instructions for installing the necessary drivers for
different system components.
• Appendix: Reference information
This appendix includes additional information that you may refer to when
conguring the motherboard.
Where to nd more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and
software updates.
1. ASUS websites
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and
software products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.
2. Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty
yers, that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not
part of the standard package.

x
Conventions used in this guide
To make sure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following
symbols used throughout this manual.
Typography
Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select.
Italics Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.
<Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-
than sign means that you must press the
enclosed key.
Example: <Enter> means that you must press
the Enter or Return key.
<Key1+Key2+Key3> If you must press two or more keys
simultaneously, the key names are linked with
a plus sign (+).
Example: <Ctrl+Alt+D>
Command Means that you must type the command
exactly as shown, then supply the required
item or value enclosed in brackets.
Example: At the DOS prompt, type the
command line: format A:/S
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself
when trying to complete a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components
when trying to complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a
task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a
task.